May 2010 Archives

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Badminton Association is confident of retaining the gold medal won by its women team in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2009 at the coming sports meet in Melaka this year.

Its president, Datuk Maijol Mahap said this was based on the team's preparation, adding that the team would be represented by the same players who played at the Sukma in Terengganu two years ago.

"So, we hope to defend the gold for the women team. As for the men team, we hope for the best...at least to the semi-final," he told Bernama here.

For the women team, Sabah is banking its hope on Sannatasah Saniru, who helped the national women team to win the gold in the Sea Games in Laos. She is also the first Sabahan to compete in the Uber Cup recently.

"I believe she will give a good performance in the coming Sukma," said Maijol.

He said the team was also hoping on former national player Amelia Alicia Anscelly, as well as national players, Florah Ng Siew Fong and Marylen Ng Paou Leng, to strengthen the Sabah women team which also comprised Yvonne Ong Jing Er, Soong Fie Cho, Tan Sue Lin and Adrina Aysha Anscelly.

For the men's team, Sabah will be represented by national player Vountus Saniru, Cheong Khung Tze, Lim Yu Fu, Nurfadli Mohd Said, Chong Kein Hiung, Harun Burahima, Asry Abas and Calvin Ong.

Maijol said that the Sabah women and men's teams would hold friendly matches with a few clubs in Kuala Lumpur as part of their "warming up" events to Sukma.

"They include the Coronar Sports Club led by former national player in the Thomas Cup 1992, Cheah Soon Kit," he added.

Source: Bernama

Kota Kinabalu: Good news for movie-goers in Sabah - Golden Screen Cinemas Sdn Bhd (GSC) will be extending the first digital 3D hall to Sabah when the cinema chain opens its latest cinema, a 8-screen multiplex in Suria Sabah Kota Kinabalu Mall this May 20.

Located on the 8th floor, GSC Suria Sabah will have a total of 1,465 seats and 16 wheelchair space to cater the ever-growing entertainment needs in the East Malaysia.(...)

Sabah movie-goers can look forward to the much more superior digital movies from May onwards starting with "Shrek Forever After" in digital 3D which will be screened here in GSC Suria Sabah when the cinema opens. Pending availability of digital projector, GSC plans to install another 3D projector in GSC 1Borneo before the end of year.

Source: www.gsc.com.my

SEPANG, 17 May 2010 - AirAsia's much-awaited Free Seats promotion is back! Guests can expect even more exciting destinations with 1 million FREE SEATS offered including the new India destinations, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, China and many more across AirAsia's extensive network of over 130 routes which stretches across 20 countries.

The booking period for the Free Seat promo is from 18th - 23rd May 2010 for the travel period from 3rd January - 8th May 2011. Promotional seats are limited and available on first-come, first-served basis and made exclusively online via www.airasia.com and mobile.airasia.com

The Free Seats promo offers all-in fare from as low as RM6*. Guests will only have to pay the airport tax from Kuala Lumpur to destinations such as Johor Bahru, Alor Setar, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi, Penang and others.

The international routes are expected to be snapped up quickly as the Free Seats promo offers an amazing all-in fare from as low as RM25*. Guests planning to visit the various destinations in Indonesia including Bandung, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Padang and Banda Aceh; are all well known for its beautiful sceneries, shopping venues and delectable local cuisines will be able to enjoy all-in fare from as low as RM25*.
Other hot international destinations which are also offered all-in fare from as low as RM25* include Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). AirAsia's newly launched routes in India such as Bangalore and Hyderabad are also offered all-in fare from RM25*.

In addition to Free Seats on these selected routes, AirAsia is also offering super low all-in fare from RM49* to destinations such as Bali, Hanoi, Haikou, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and many more. Highly in demand "Kangaroo Routes" in Australia such as Gold Coast and Perth are available from RM149*, Melbourne from RM199* while those planning for a European getaway can opt to fly to London from as low as RM699*. Those who are into exotic attractions can opt to go to New Delhi or Mumbai, India from as low as RM199*.

Continue reading Airasia offers 1 MILLION free seats!

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah can be the next musical art hub in the region given its natural setting and abundance of talents among its youths as well as availability of performing space.

Director of Drama of therockschool Musical Theatre, Chris Colby, from London's West End, said the youths here are amazing but don't realise just how talented they are.

"There is so much untapped talents and we believe Sabah has the potential to become an art hub," he said after witnessing 39 young performers in a drama at Music Mart on Sunday.

He said he and his colleague, David Kort, who is Director of Dance at therockschool Musical Theatre, made the decision to come to Sabah because of its potential in musical theatre.

He said Sabah is a beautiful place with an abundance of space to carry out musical theatre.

Citing the under-utilised theatres at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), Yayasan Sabah and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Colby said there is a need to train people with interest in musical theatre here.

According to him, plans are underway through a performing project for children in orphanages in Sabah on May 29 to perform at the KLCC in Kuala Lumpur.

Continue reading...

Labuan: Effort are underway to create a new village for the Kadazandusun and Murut community in Labuan, member of parliament Datuk Yussof Mahal said.

He said the matter would be brought up to the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry for approval, soon.

There are about 5,000 Kadazandusuns and Muruts on the island but living scattered areas.

The Labuan Kadazandusun Murut Association has requested that a cultural village, or at least a new village, be set up for the community.

Making the request in conjunction with the Labuan Tadau Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) here today, a spokesman for the association, Markus Jikunan, said: "We want to see our community living together in one village in the interest of unity."

On another development, Yussof said the government was serious in resolving the long-standing issue of ferry services between the island and Sabah.

He said the federal government had given the green light for additional ferry services this year, allowing passengers to bring their cars from the island to the mainland.

"It is not that the existing ferry service is poor, but the government prefers to see more services for the betterment of the people," he said.

There were some teething problems need to be resolved, he said, particularly with regard to the Sabah government's reluctance to give the "landing rights" to other ferry operators.

This article is from malaysia.news.yahoo.com

Tenom: A giant Rafflesia flower about a metre in diameter has bloomed in Sabah's interior Tenom district.

The world's largest flower, which is extremely difficult to find, was discovered by farmer Yubis Kinsil who found it in his rubber plantation at Kg Mogitom, about 14kms from Tenom town yesterday.

"It came as a pleasant surprise as it opened in our rubber plantation. I suppose it is good luck for us as a family. It is a rare flower," said Kinsil.

The family planned to get tourists into the plantation areas and allow people to get a glimpse of the parasitic flowering plant.

Whenever a Rafflesia blooms, villagers in Sabah put up signboards along the roads to inform the public that they can view the flower, and some charge a fee for people to see it.

From The Star

KOTA KINABALU: Ace Café & Lounge Kota Kinabalu recently presented a donation of RM8,000 to Rumah Kanak- Kanak San Damiano Children Hostel in Kiulu.

"The donation is part of the company's initiatives to help the needy and the less fortunate. We hope that this contribution can help ease their burden," Ace Café & Lounge manager Ronald Pudin who handed over a mock cheque for RM8,000 to Sister Frances William, person-in-charge of the home.

The donation to the home is part of the ongoing charity programme organised by the management of Ace Café & Lounge to assist the less fortunate.

Also present during the ceremony was Ace Café & Lounge area manager Lydwina Ingihon, assistant manager Suzan Subinon, among others.

The home, a refuge for underprivileged rural children, orphans and single parent children, is in urgent need of assistance to sustain its ongoing operations.

Continue reading Firm donates RM8,000 to children's home in Kiulu

Kota Kinabalu : Sabah's tourist attractions must be fully tapped with more aggressive promotional efforts and attractive packages as the tourism sector is a prime catalyst for improving the people's lot and the state's economy.

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said there should also be more variety of tourism products to keep drawing tourists to Malaysia, especially Sabah.

"The federal government, meanwhile, will continue to give its support to the tourism sector in Sabah, which has many natural attractions like Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia's highest mountain," he said at the opening of the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Fair for the East Malaysia Region 2010 at the 1Borneo Hypermall, here, yesterday.

James said based on statistics from Tourism Malaysia, 5,362,270 tourists stayed in hotels throughout Sabah last year including 2,833,630 domestic tourists, while from last year until February this year, 1,501 domestic tourists chose the homestay while in Sabah.

"This clearly shows that the contribution of domestic tourists to the sector cannot be taken lightly."

Dawos was also happy to note that Sabah was placed as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the region last year and took second spot in the list of best international tourist destinations by the Global Traveler Tested Awards.

On the Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Fair, he said it was aimed at promoting the various domestic tourism products in an integrated manner and to enable the public to directly purchase the tourism packages offered.

Dawos said last year saw 16,861 domestic tourism packages worth RM4.7 million sold to visitors to the fair. -- Bernama

From The Borneo Post